Relief-damper for locomotives.



1. P. STA ATS.

RELIEF DAMPER FOR LOCOMOTIVES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. i913.

Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J, P. STAATS.

RELIEF DAMPER FOR LOCOMOTIVES:

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1913.

Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

JOHN P. STAATS, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

RELIEF-DAMPER FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2'7, 1915.

Application filed May 22, 1913. Serial No. 769,244.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. STAATs, a c1t1- zen of the United States, residing 1n W11- mington, county of Newcastle, State of Dela-- ware, have invented certain Improvements in Relief-Dampers for Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means for automatically breaking a partial vacuum in the smoke box of a locomotive when the draft is excessive, so as to prevent the destruction of the bed of fuel in the fire box and the passage of the unconsumed fuel through the tubes, smoke box and stack.

In the present type of locomotive, particularly those of a great size, when started, the exhaust steam passes through the nozzle and out through the stack, placing an excessive draft on the bed of fuel and causing large lumps of unconsumed coal to be drawn from the fire box through the tubes and into the smoke box. The action of the steam is so rapid that the draft cannot be properly regulated by any manually operated device, but by my invention, as soon as the draft becomes excessive, the dampers are automatically opened and the partial vacuum is broken, preventing too much draft in the fire box.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional view of the smoke box of a locomotive illustrating my invention; Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view on the line aa, Fig. 1, with the nozzle and stack in outside view; Fig. 8, is an enlarged sectional view on the line a0;, Fig. 1, showing the damper in detail; Fig. 4, is a view showing the form of the cut in the plate of the smoke box; Fig. 5, is a view showing the frame secured to the plate; Fig. 6, is a detached perspective view of the damper; Fig. v7, is a detached perspective view of the frame to which the damper is pivoted; and Fig. 8, is a view illustrating a turn buckle which may be used to hold the damper closed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the body of the locomotive boiler.

2 is the forward tube sheet.

3, 8 are the flue tubes communicating at one end with the fire box of the locomotive and at the other end with the smoke box 4:.

5 is the shell of the smoke box.

6 is the exhaust nozzle leading from the cylinders.

7 is the stack having an extension 8 with in the smoke box 4. As the exhaust steam passes from the nozzle 6 it enters the extension 8 of the stack 7 and causes a partial vacuum in the smoke box which, under ordinary conditions, provides the desired draft in the fire box.

On starting the locomotive, as hereinbefore described, a large quantity of steam escapes from the nozzle causing an excessive draft and partly destroys the bed of coal in the fire box and projects particles of unconsumed coal out of the stack. In order to check this excessive draft, I provide, in the present instance, two openings 9, 9, one in each side of the shell or plate 5 of the smoke box, preferably in line with the stack, as shown in Fig. 1. Each opening is closed by a pivoted damper l0 and the counterweight of this damper can be regulated so that the damper will open when the draft exceeds a certain limit, thus any excessive draft will open the dampers and air, under atmospheric pressure, will be drawn in through the openings and will thus prevent excessive draft on the. fuel in the fire box.

I preferably make the dampers in the following manner :-The plate 5 forming the shell ofthe fire box is cut to form an opening 11, as shown in Fig. 4. The Walls of the opening are notched at each side 12 and the plate has a series of rivet holes 13 punched therein. A frame 14., illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, is shaped so that one-half extends on the outside of the shell 5 of the smoke box and the other half extends on the inside. The connecting portion 15 of the frame passes through the notches 12 in the plate 5 and upper rivets secure the upper section 16 of the frame to the plate- 5, while lower rivets secure the lower half 17 of the frame which extends on the inside of the fire box to the plate 5.

On the frame are bearings 18 and on the damper 10 are lugs 19 through which the pivot rod 20 extends. This rod also projects through the bearings 18 of the frame. In order to relieve the damper of shock, due to the rapid opening and closing of the same, I mount the damper loosely on the pivot rod 20 and secure to the rod, preferably at the center, an arm 21 on which is the adjustable counterweight 22 which can be attached, after adjustment, by a set screw or other device.

Projecting from the damper are two in the damper.

tapered lugs 23,0ne projecting below the arm 2-1 and the other projecting above the arm so as to limit the movement of the arm Secured to the arm 21, in the present instance, are two springs 2%, one bearing on one lug 23 and the other bearing on the opposite lug, so that, when the damper is opened, due to the suction of the exhaust steam, the counterweight will be raised through the action of the springs which will reduce the shock, and the same action takes place when the damper is closed.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated a turn buckle 25, pivoted to the frame, to hold the damper closed when desired. Itwill be seen by the above description that'the construction of the dampers is such that, when the draft is excessive, they will automatically open and will break the partial vacuum created, so that the draft will not destroy-the bed of fuel in the fire box and will also prevent the passage of unconsumed fuel out of the stack. When the fire door is open, so that fuel may be applied,'the device will automatically close.

While I have shown a damper at each side of the smoke box, a single damper may be used, and the size of the damper will depend upon the size of the locomotive.

I claim 1. The combination of a boiler having a smoke box; an exhaust nozzle communicatand arranged to open when the draft in the smoke box exceeds a given limit.

:2; The combination of a boiler having a smoke box; a steam nozzle; a stack communicating with the smoke box, the shellof'the smoke. box having an opening therein; a frame surrounding the opening; a pivot rod mounted in bearings in the frame; a damper loosely mounted on the rod and arranged to close the opening; an arm secured to the rod; a counter-weight carried by the arm; and springs located between the damper and the arm which act as cushions for the rod when the damper is opened or closed.

3. The combination of a boiler having a smoke box provided with an opening; a steam nozzle and a stack communicating with the interior of the smoke box; a pivot rod; a damper loosely mounted on the pivot rod and arranged to close the opening; an arm on the pivot rod having a counter weight; two lugs projecting from the damper, one extending above the rod and the other below the rod; and a spring located between each lug and the rod, so as to act as a cushion for the rod when the damper is opened or closed.

4:. The combination in a damper, of a plate having an opening therein, the side walls of the opening being notched; a frame having two sections connected together, the connections of the frame extending through the notches in the plate, one section of the frame being secured to the outside of the plate and the other section of the frame being secured to the inside of the plate; said frame having bearings; a pivot rod mounted in the bearings; a damper loosely mounted on the pivot rod and arranged to close the opening; an arm on the pivot rod; an ad justable counterweight thereon; lugs on the damper, one mounted above and the other mounted below the arm; and springs located between the lugs and the arm.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN P. STAATS. Witnesses VVM. E. SI-IUrn, YVM. A. BARR.

.- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

